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Roger McGuinn's album Treasures from the Folk Den has been growing on me. It's even more of a nostalgia trip than is usual with folk music. McGuinn (best known as the leader of the Byrds) cut his teeth in the folk/protest era of the late 50s and early 60s. He's been putting out new versions of the era's songs online for some years. Now he's done a compilation album, re-recording these songs in the company of the artist associated with them back when. These include some real old-timers, like Pete Seeger and Jean Ritchie, as well as 60s staples like Judy Collins and Odetta. They no longer have the great voices of their youth, but most have gained an easy virtuosity over the years. Their art belies the simplicity of the performances, which seem more than ever modeled on the "authentic", unschooled style of rural singers, as exemplified by the Harry Smith Anthology. Thirty years ago these folks were showy singers, trying too hard; today they've almost become the real thing.

Most of the songs are chestnuts, but they are durable, and a few may have escaped your ear. I particularly like Dink's Song, which I've never owned a recording of. As told by Lomax, the story of the song and its singer is sad, and the achy duet by McGuinn and Josh White Jr. does them justice (even in a bowdlerized version). I wondered whether the reference to "Norah's dove" was a corruption of Noah's dove, but haven't found a clear statement on the point. Such "obvious" assumptions about traditional material often turn out to be wrong. Dylan sang it as "Noah's", which doesn't prove much, but this over-worshipful account does present a funny picture of the young singer working on his own myth.


- alex 2-05-2002 6:33 pm [link] [1 ref] [add a comment]

i guess if it were true he wouldn't have written this
- linda 1-23-2002 4:07 pm [link] [1 comment]

Dusk's Gallery
124 Storms Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07306
Telephone: 201-451-4404
Email: dusksgallery@aol.com

For Immediate Release

............................................................................................................

Mark Dagley - Sculpture
Bill Schwarz - Photographs


February 1st through March 2nd, 2002

Dusk's Gallery presents the work of Jersey City artists Mark Dagley and Bill Schwarz. In this exhibition, both artists address issues of non-function and altered physicality in objects, images, and memory.

Mark Dagley's recent sculptures are hybrid objects informed by furniture design and molecular models. Dagley has created home-furnishings--chairs, tables, plant stands--that are drained of most true function. Like science projects gone awry, these objects emit a contaminated haze of meaning and humor. They are bizarre structural fictions for a non-lifestyle, bomb-shelter decor for the nuclear family that has it all, except maybe something to look at.

Bill Schwarz's found photographs offer observational experiences that need no direct artistic mediation. Schwarz acquires images from a variety of sources, including the internet, or in this case, curbside refuse. This recent body of work consists of what appear to be legal documents, evidence from a liablity suit. The subject of these photographs, taken from a variety of angles and depths of field, is a residential or storefront stoop that has fallen into disrepair, causing, perhaps, a misstep, an injury. These images reflect upon the investigation of the familiar. Accompanying them are two photographs of Hungarian Airlines 767s, advertisements for the artist's former employer, an international import/export firm, once located in World Trade Center, Tower One.

For more information, please contact Charles Cano, Gallery Director.


- bill 1-21-2002 8:09 pm [link] [5 comments]

T Smith


- bill 1-20-2002 8:02 pm [link] [add a comment]

i cant read that much these days on the tree so sorry if this was talked about

SHINE
- Skinny 1-20-2002 7:57 pm [
link] [add a comment]

Buckminster Fuller Illusive Mutant Artist



Les Levine on video



- bill 1-13-2002 1:56 pm [link] [add a comment]